CNI News

10 June 2024

The Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA) sent a letter requesting to restrain the actions of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to the Commander in Chief of the United Wa State Army (UWSA/UWSP) U Zhao Zhongdang reportedly. 

The letter on which vice chairman (1) of the SSPP/SSA signed was sent to U Zhao Zhongdang.

The TNLA forces attacked the SSPP four times on 5th July, 2024, so the battles broke out between the two sides, said in the letter.

The SSPP wanted to have mutual respect and support relation with the TNLA like the relation between the SSPP and the UWSA, so the SSPP specially need the help of the UWSA, said in the letter. So, the the SSPP requested the UWSA in order to restrain the TNLA as necessary, said in the letter.

While seeing the letter sent to the Commander in Chief of the UWSA by the SSPP

The TNLA attacked the military camps of the SSPP in Kyaukme and Nawnghkio Townships and a few battles broke out between the two sides. Moreover, the TNLA disarmed the SSPP troops in Namkham Township and forced the troops to move.

And then, the SSPP disarmed the TNLA/PDF joint forces that were active in Thibaw Township and forced the forces to move on 7th July and the SSPP disarmed the TNLA forces that arrived in Manhero Town, Muse Township on 6th July and forced the TNLA troops to move.

There are territorial and administration disputes between the two EAOs in northern Shan State as well as military tension.

CNI News

9 July 2024

The Union Minister for Labor told agencies on 7th July to persuade the workers they have sent abroad to transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries to their families in Myanmar through official channels. 

The minister said the above at the 11th anniversary celebration of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Association (MOEAA). So, agencies must present to the department whether the workers they have sent abroad have transferred money to their families within three months or not.

Agencies are finding it difficult because the ministry are putting pressure on them and the workers they have sent abroad don't transfer money through legal channels as there is a big gap between the market price and the one the Central Bank has designated, an official from an overseas employment agency, told CNI News.

While seeing migrant workers who have arrived abroad

" When transferring money, there is a big gap between the market price of foreign currency and the one the Central Bank pays. The workers don't transfer money through legal channels. The authorities forcibly ask us to make the workers transfer money. Because they say that agencies have to take responsibility, agencies are in trouble. When the money is transferred to Myanmar from Thailand, the market price of a Thai baht is 120 kyats, but the Central Bank of Myanmar pay only 90 or 98 kyats per baht. So, the workers don't transfer money to Myanmar through legal channels." he said.

Moreover, the Union Minister and the MOEAA met on 6th June and the minister asked the agencies to make the workers transfer money to their families and pay the tax, stated the Ministry of Labor.

Because the contract with the workers before they were sent abroad contained transferring 25 percent of the basic salaries to their families in Myanmar and to pay two percent of the income tax, agencies needed to supervise the workers they sent abroad to make them transfer money and pay the tax, said the minister reportedly.

While seeing those who will go abroad to work

Because the ministry has strictly carried out regarding remittance to families, every worker that made a contract with agencies must transfer money, U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.

" The minister said that every worker was responsible to transfer 25 percent of their basic salaries to their families in Myanmar through legal channels. The ministry has made a platform for that. The committee has been formed. The date will come out regarding how much the workers transfer to the bank whether they transfer or not." he said.

As transferring money to the country from Myanmar workers in foreign countries through legal channels could improve the country's GDP, the ministry possibly has tightened this, reviewed some people. The number of workers that were sent abroad is nearly 200,000 in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, stated the Directorate of Labor.

CNI News

9 July 2024

Film actors Khin Hlaing and Myint Myat as well as comedy artists Mommy Thet and Moe Nyo were awarded comedian excellence awards by the State Administration Council on 7th July, 2024. 

14th Paying Homage to Elder Comedy Artists of the Myanmar Comedy Artists Association (Center) and the Comedian Excellence Award ceremony was held in Naypyidaw on 7th July.

Deputy Information Minister of the SAC Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun awarded comedian excellence awards to Khin Hlaing, Myint Myat, as well as gave a souvenir to Dain Daung. 

In the same way, comedy artists Mommy Thet and Moe Nyo were awarded comedian excellence awards as well as Ohn Daing was awarded the comedy supporting excellence award.

Moreover, Chit Chaw, Paw Oo, Director Ko Zaw (Ar Yon Oo) and Director Maung Thi were also awarded Comedy Creation Excellence Awards.

CNI News

9 July 2024

Vice chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Deputy Commander in Chief of the Defense Services Vice-Senior General Soe Win, and the President of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Ms Shen Yueyue discussed the cooperation for the peace and stability of the border areas of the two countries and the full security.

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win is attending the Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries that is held in China and he met and discussed with the Chinese delegate at 5:00 p.m on 7th July, 2024.

Increasing all-round strategic cooperation, peace and stability of the border areas of the two countries and full security of projects in order to carry out, illegal border crossing, elimination of online gambling and anti-drug activities were discussed in the meeting.

Moreover, increasing bilateral trade, bilateral economic cooperation and investment, implementation of five steps ahead of the State Administration Council, and attempts in order to hold a multi-party democratic general election were discussed reportedly.

While seeing Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win and Ms. Shen Yueyue were discussing on 7th July 2024

At present, battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and revolutionary forces across the country. Because of these battles, border trades have stopped and so have economic investments and implementations of projects.

However, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Burma National Revolutionary Army (BNRA) have announced that they would effectively take action against any organization or individual that hurt Chinese projects and economic investments.

There are many Chinese investments including petroleum and gas drilling, timber extracting, gold mining, copper production, agricultural industry, construction industry and Kyauk Phyu Deepwater Port in Myanmar.

CNI News

6 July 2024

Census-taking would be conducted in two phases in order that a general election could be held, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council. 

He said the above in the meeting (5/2024) of the Union Government held on 5th July, 2024.

" Census-taking, a preparation task for the election, would be conducted across the country starting from early October. Census-taking will be conducted in every possible place and in the limited areas to the best of our ability and if necessary, census-taking could be conducted in two phases." said chairman of the SAC.

The number of people who were displaced for various reasons must be counted so that vote lists could be correct and only after conducting census-taking, would making vote lists be conducted, he added.

Census-taking would be conducted from 1st to 15th October, announced the Ministry of Immigration and Manpower by erecting billboards. And then, a general election would be held in 2025, said Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Census-taking is conducted every ten years in Myanmar and last census-taking, in 2014.

CNI News

6 July 2024

There are discussions and reviews among the political circles regarding what the role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in the current Myanmar politics is. 

The State Administration Council (SAC) might present DASSK to the public if there was anything to do with western countries, Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.

"As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is currently under complete control, she might not know latest developments. But as U Thein Sein has been presented to the public, DASSK possibly will be presented. Because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is closer to the western group, if there's anything to do with the western countries, she might be presented to the public. U Thein Sein was presented to the public regarding eastern forces such as China. It's right. When the East and the West are competing in strength, both of them will be presented to the public, I think." he said.

While President (retired) U Thein Sein and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy Party (NLD) has been detained in the Naypyidaw Prison since 1st February 2021. 

At present armed conflicts are widely taking place across the country and western countries have imposed sanctions against Myanmar. 

The SAC was trying to use Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to weaken the revolution, Dr.Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing

" They seem to be trying to use DASSK. But she doesn't consider to be used at all this time. Because she didn't say what they like, she was not released, I think. Because they said often that she had been moved here or there, they did that on purpose to cause different ideas between strong revolutionary forces and weak ones, I think." she said.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to 33 years in prison for 19 cases and she got six years of parole on 1st August.

Some members of the NLD including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint, leaders of the NLD were arrested on 1st February, 2021 that started political changes.

CNI News

6 July 2024

Restraint and gentleness were needed in taking action against the private banks that lent housing loans more than the amount designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar, economic and banking experts told CNI News. 

Although taking action against these banks was right, the authorities should tackle the problem restrainedly and cleverly or negative consequences could emerge, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

" Theses private banks were wrong, but the government should tackle the problem restrainedly because the banking industry collapses, other economic industries will collapse. Action must be taken in a way that educates them. If they are forcefully suppressed, bad consequences will emerge. The Central Bank must gradually take action little by little. If they are taken action against at once, their customers will suffer. They should be given a period to solve the problem. Sometimes, there are many cases that cannot be taken action at once in the world." he said.

Taking action against relevant private banks regarding housing loans could not impact on housing loan borrowers and the private banks that have lent the loans mainly would have to solve it, he pointed out. 

While demonstrating the housing loan

Private banks have been allowed to Lend housing loans with a loan term of more than (3) years, depending on the total bank loans in order to improve home ownership opportunities for the people.

However, seven private banks have lent housing loans excessively to make them more profitable, violating the instruction of the Central Bank, said in the statement released by the government.

Officials concerned will supervise in order to go back to the terms and conditions related to housing loans that was released by the Central Bank within the period designated reportedly. As more taxes had to be paid when buying real estate, more agricultural lands were being bought, a real estate agent told CNI News.

" As the current real estate transaction, rather than real estate transaction with full documentation, farmlands are bought or sold, filling over the farmlands with ground at a lower price. To tell you frankly, it's difficult to apply for property document. So, transactions are being conducted with promissory notes. Because regional departments are also corrupt, it might be difficult to solve them sometime in the future." he said.

According to Section 154 of the Financial Institutions Act of the Central Bank, the private banks that lent the loans more than the amount designated would have to pay effective fines and officials from the Central Bank who were weak in supervising private banks would be taken action against, said in the statement.

Taking administrative action contains warning, fining, restrictions on the operations of financial institutions, suspension or cease of serving in financial institutions.

CNI News

5 July 2024

The Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr.Cheng Hai and the Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing discussed the peace and stability of the border areas and the ability to hold a free and fair multi-party democratic general election. 

Mr. Cheng Hai, the Chinese ambassador, will leave Myanmar after completing his duties and when he came and met with chairman of the SAC on 4th July, 2024, they discussed the above issues.

China and Myanmar are strategic partner countries and they discussed the situations relating to the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and friendship and cooperation developments, stated the SAC.

Moreover, the efforts of the State for the development of Myanmar and achievement of the domestic peace and the circumstances of China's assistance; cooperation for stability and peace in the border region, and the preparations in relation to the ability to hold a free and fair multi-party democratic general election were discussed by the Chinese Ambassador and the chairman of the SAC.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Mandalay People's Defense Force (MDY-PDF) and the Danu People's Defense Force (DPDF) together are attacking the Northeastern Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Lashio and military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Kyaukme and Nawnghkio.

In the same way, the TNLA, the MDY-PDF and the PDF in Madaya Township are attacking the military camps of the Myanmar Tatmadaw in Mogok, Momeik, Madaya and Sint Ku.

On the other hands, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has said that a general election would be held in 2025 after conducting census-taking in 2024.

The National Unity Government (NUG) and the PDFs that are opposition forces have announced that they would destroy the election that the SAC would hold in order that the election could not be held.

CNI News

5 July 2024

According to the four month long arresting plan, the Thai authorities are searching, checking and arresting all over the country and they could more strictly check and arrest in the border areas, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Rights Foundation, told CNI News.

" Every country gives priority to their countries' security. The Thai authorities will more strictly check the border camps or outposts, and the channels of human traffickers and brokers, I think. More security forces will be deployed. Those who want to enter Thailand for many reasons need to read or listen to news and information in advance." he said.

The Thai authorities have officially release the four month (120 days) long arresting plan that would. arrest, fine and send back to native countries if undocumented migrant workers were found. 

The plan started in June and within the first 24 days of the plan, nearly 80,000 illegal migrant workers were arrested and of them, over 60,000 are Myanmar migrant workers, stated the Thai Ministry of Labor.

While seeing a fishery workplace in Thailand

During the period of arresting plan, because the number of people who came and applied for CI was few, CI book issuing process would be suspended starting from 7th July, announced the Thai Ministry of Labor.

" At first, they said that CI issuing would be transferred to the Myanmar Embassy in October. But now they will transfer before October to want those who don't have CI books to apply for CI." said Ko Moe Lay who lives in Mae Sot told CNI News.

Migrant workers with work permits were included in the people who were arrested because they were working in the different places from those described on documents reportedly.

According to the Thai law, undocumented workers and workers working in the employments that they are not allowed - if they were found, they would be fined 5,000 to 50,000 bahts. Moreover, they would be sent back to their native countries and banned from working for two years.

According to the current plan, the Thai authorities entered 203 places including shops, factories, workshops, construction sites and restaurants and arrested illegals reportedly.